the yes prep way: supporting first-gen students to and through college rob mooring director of...

The YES Prep Way: Supporting First-Gen Students To and

Through College

Rob MooringDirector of College Counseling

(Former)YES Prep East End Campus

Session Outcomes ● Share and highlight key issues affecting

college persistence and graduation, especially for First-Generation students.

● Provide overview of relevant cognitive and non-cognitive research and essential questions used to inform current and future practices.

● Share lessons learned and best practices around college preparation, college access and overall alumni support.

Think, Pair and Share

●What are some of the challenges in working with first-generation college students and their families?

Agenda●Define It: History & Purpose

●Do It: Implementation & Results

●Build It: School-Based Non-Cognitive Practices

●Questions & Answers

Agenda●Define It: History & Purpose

●Do It: Implementation & Results

●Build It: School-Based Non-Cognitive Practices

●Questions & Answers

A Sense of History

13 CAMPUSES SERVING OVER 8,000 STUDENTS

- Future capacity of ~10,300- Drawn from 90+ Houston zip codes

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

- Grades Served: 6th-12th

- 84% are FARM eligible- 97% Hispanic or African American

HOME OFFICE STAFF- People and Program Team

- Finance Team- Development Team

- Growth, Operations and Technology Team

CAMPUS-BASED STAFF- 13 YES campuses

- Over 725 staff

Current Profile2014-2015 School Year

Redefine Possible

Hoffman

White Oak

Key Issues Facing College PersistenceNational research, along with YES Prep’s own research, shows the following to be the key factors that will often determine persistence in college:

Level of Academic Preparatio

n

Lack of College

Knowledge(Admissions,

Matriculation & Graduation)

Lack of Financial

Aid Awareness & Literacy

Utilization of college / university resources(Academic &

Personal / Social-

Emotional)

External Mitigating Situations

Agenda● Define It: History & Purpose

● Do It: Implementation & Results

● Build It: School-Based Non-Cognitive Practices

● Questions & Answers

Our “To and Through” Approach: Putting the Pieces TogetherOver the years, our approach to supporting students to and through college has evolved. Though each component has always existed, the way we approach each has evolved as our alumni population has grown and changed.

SeminarProgram Student

Opportunities

CollegeCounseling Alumni

Support

Our Approach…

SeminarProgram Student

Opportunities

CollegeCounseling Alumni

Support

Seminar Program Across High School“Transition-College Knowledge”

Research colleges and universities that are reach, target, and solid;

Apply to and attend fly-in programs, attend local area college information sessions and workshops, attend school-based college visits, and attend YES Prep college fair; and

Finalize a well-balanced reach, target, and solid college list that is mutually agreed upon by college counselor, student, and family.

Senior

Explore college and university academic programs, student support systems, campus social/recreational offerings, campus environment, and cost of attendance;

Evaluate college and university academic programs, student support systems, campus social/recreational offerings, campus environment, and cost of attendance;

Compare college and university admission criteria to his/her academic credentials and personal interests to determine admissibility; and

Create a well-balanced initial reach, target, solid college list.

Junior

Explore college and university academic programs, student support systems, campus social/recreational offerings, campus environment, and cost of attendance at commonly attended Texas public universities and IMPACT schools;

Identify academic programs at three to five colleges and universities that connect to potential career/major interests;

List college admission standards for three to five colleges and universities; and

Compare college and university admission criteria to his/her current academic credentials.

Sophomore

Explore college and university academic programs, student support systems, campus social/recreational offerings, campus environment, and cost of attendance at commonly attended Texas public universities and IMPACT schools;

Reflect on colleges and universities and explain what he/she likes and dislikes about the college;

List college admission standards for three to five colleges and universities; and

Compare college and university admission criteria to his/her current academic performance.

Freshman

Scaffolded and Reinforced Approach

Seminar Program Across High School“Transition-College Knowledge”

❖ MUST Read❖ Developmental Approach to College

Counseling❖ Shaped our Seminar Curriculum❖ Helped us Develop Five Major Focus

Areas❖ Aspiration❖ Preparation❖ Application❖ Transition❖ Graduation

❖ Most Compelling Message to Me❖ We’ll Talk More about Non-Cognitive

Skills Later

Wait, Huh?

● Start Small● Build from the ground up

● Differentiate based on development, grade level

● Identity● Value of College● People Like Me● Positive Self-Concept/Realistic Self Appraisal● Strong Support Person● Community

Our Approach…

SeminarProgram Student

Opportunities

CollegeCounseling Alumni

Support

Student Opportunities Program

- Exposure to world outside “community bubble”

- Builds and reinforces “non-cognitive” skills and traits

- Begins “letting go” for students and parents

Internships

Summer Opportunities

College Visits

Wait, Huh?

● Start Locally● Where could you network with

admission counselors to find out about programs on their campus?????

Our Approach…

SeminarProgram Student

Opportunities

CollegeCounseling Alumni

Support

College Counseling Program

Counseling & Advising

• One-on-one counseling and advising

Test Prep• Test prep in junior and

senior year

Instruction and Support

• Support and instruction through seminar program

Exposure to College

• Spring trips coordination and support

Wait, Huh?

● Start Strategically● Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Your Team

● Example: 100% of first gen students apply college

● What are the drivers?● How can you achieve them within the

context of your school?● How can you motivate your administration

to help/give you resources?

Our Approach…

SeminarProgram Student

Opportunities

CollegeCounseling Alumni

Support

Tra

ns

itio

n • To and From College

• Senior Summit

• Exit Interviews

• Alumni Send-Off Events C

on

ne

cti

on • Facebook

• Alumni Connect

• Alumni Socials

• Alumni Spotlights

• Alumni Connection Newsletter

• Site Visits

Pro

gra

ms • IMPACT

Partnership Program

• Alumni Scholarship Program

• Alumni Fellows Program

Re

so

urc

es • Alumni Portal

• Alumni Assistance Program

• Grad School Prep Nights

• Alumni Parent Support Network

• Webinars

Wait, Huh?

● Start Cheaply● Senior Week!

● Students come (provide food/candy, fill out information, get help with matriculation)

● TSI, Final Transcripts, Dissecting Financial Aid, College Portals

● National Student Clearinghouse● Provides reports 3 times a year (Fall, Spring,

Summer)● Cost: $425 annual subscription to Student

Tracker

Key Take-Aways From Our Experience

Level of Academic Preparatio

n

Demystifying the

college experience(Create “aha”

moments)

Ensure Financial

Aid Awareness & Literacy

Full utilization of college / university resources(Academic &

Personal / Social-

Emotional)

Fully Develop Alumni Support

Programs

Program Implementation On Your Campus

● Examples of Sample Programs/Ideas:● Seek out other local schools, college counselors and local

organizations that can assist with your efforts (professional development conference at colleges, TACAC Drive-In Workshops, etc.)

● Use classes (especially if they are double-blocked) to reach students

● Hold “office hours” once a week after school staffed by members of your department (rotate so that you only do it once/twice a month) OR hold on Saturdays (once a month)

Agenda● Define It: History & Purpose

● Do It: Implementation & Results

● Build It: School-Based Non-Cognitive Practices

● Questions & Answers

What’s the Difference?

Alumnus A Alumnus B

Stop-out Persistence

The Treadmill

What makes students successful?

Cognitive Non-Cognitive

IQ, memory, knowledge, vocabulary, etc.

Literally everything

else

What makes students successful?

Cognitive Non-CognitiveIQ,

memory, knowledge, vocabulary, etc.

Literally everything else

The last word…● Challenges

● Financial● Cultural

● Gabriela● Eunice

● Situational● Sam

Agenda● Define It: History & Purpose

● Do It: Implementation & Results

● Build It: School-Based Non-Cognitive Practices

● Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

Additional Solutions & Resources

❖ MUST Read❖ Great “Book Club” Book❖ FREE PDF Version!

❖ First in the Family PDF

Printed Materials & Resources

Printed Materials & Resources

● Maximize the available print resources available to you and your students to build comprehensive and feasible college lists and choices (and at the same time, everyone’s college knowledge):● Examples include:

● Fiske Guide to Colleges (by Edward Fiske) – $24.00 per book (http://www.fiskeguide.com)

● Rugg’s Recommendations (by Frederick Rugg) – $25.95 per book (http://www.ruggsrecommendations.com)

● The College Finder (by Steven Antonoff) – $24.00 per book (http://www.wintergreenorchardhouse.com/College_Finder.html )

● The Book of Majors (College Board) - $20.05 per book

Technology Resources● Maximize the available tech resources available to you

and your students to research and expand college knowledge (meet them where they are) ● Examples include:

● Naviance – www.naviance.com (COST - if your school has this means)

● The College Board (Big Picture) - https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org

Presenter Contact Information

Rob Mooring(281) 844-3679 (cell)robmooringeastend@gmail.com (email)